Wednesday, November 11
The Future of Work: How AI Is Reshaping Talent, Roles & Delivery in AEC
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Wednesday, November 11
Speakers
Darren Martin
Chief Investment & Technology Officer
AInvested
As the Chief Investment & Technology Officer at AInvested, Darren advises clients worldwide, offering critical expertise in future business strategy development and transformation, sourcing, value creation, due diligence, post-acquisition planning, exit planning and transformational technology strategy, complemented by bankable business plans. His extensive knowledge and strong market presence are instrumental in driving key transactions and organizational transformations and supporting major global corporations in their future business strategies for digital transformation and AI innovation.
Before forming AInvested, Darren served as Chief Digital Officer at AtkinsRéalis, a world-leading design engineering and project management company. Previously, he served as the global CTO for the McKinsey Operations Practice and the Capital Excellence Program at McKinsey & Co., leading innovation in generative AI, software development, and data science. He has also been the global CTO of two other energy and built environment consultancies. In these roles, he helped deliver digital transformation policies that added $100M to the bottom line and developed practical expertise in everything from identifying client challenges to determining how large organizations can best integrate powerful AI and data analytics into their products and services.
Darren is an industry-recognized thought leader on the power of connecting people, data and technology to deliver stronger outcomes and help us engineer a better future for our planet and its people. He thrives on shaping and delivering digital transformations that enable large, complex organizations to leverage innovative technologies and deliver extraordinary results.
James P. Cooper
SVP & Global Director, Water
Arcadis
James serves as Senior Vice President and Global Director for Water at Arcadis with more than 20 years of experience as a Certified Change Management Professional, certified operator, professional engineer and utility manager. James has a passion for people enabled by technology and an educational background in civil engineering and artificial intelligence. As Chair of the American Water Works Association's (AWWA) Engineering & Construction Division, Chair of the AWWA's Artificial Intelligence Committee and Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN) Council Member, he has cultivated deep industry relationships.
James P. Cooper
SVP & Global Director, Water
The Trailblazers Podcast
Truly Transformational
With Arcadis’ James P. Cooper
Jonathan Nelson
Senior Principal & Global Head of Digital
Populous
Jonathan joined Populous in 2022 as Global Head of Digital, overseeing digital transformation efforts internally and productization/partnership efforts externally. This senior role supports the global Holdings Board through the development, evaluation and evolution of a technological vision and strategy to develop and enhance all digital services and products.
While Jonathan is an architect by training, his career has spanned both architecture and construction as well as software development, manufacturing and academia. As an academic and researcher, Jonathan has been published extensively on the topics of prefabrication, generative design, digital fabrication and augmented reality.
Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Master of Construction Practice from Bond University in Robina, Australia.
Jonathan Nelson
Senior Principal & Global Head of Digital
The Trailblazers Podcast
Next-Level Experiences
With Populous’ Jonathan Nelson
Javier A. Baldor
Chief Executive Officer
BST Global
Javier is Chief Executive Officer and a Principal Shareholder of BST Global. Javier leads a global team of professionals responsible for the market introduction of BST Global's business software products and cloud solutions. Javier is also instrumental in crafting and implementing the company’s business strategy, overall vision and mission with the BST Global leadership team. In addition to his role as CEO of BST Global, Javier serves on the ACEC Research Institute Board of Directors.
Javier joined BST Global in 1989 and has served in various capacities during his tenure. In 1999, Javier was the primary catalyst in establishing a global vision for BST Global, and since that time, the company has flourished from its roots as a North American-centric business to a prosperous and vibrant global software organization. Today, with the steadfast support of fellow senior leadership and committed professionals globally, BST Global operates across an international network of offices and has clients leveraging BST Global’s solutions in 65 countries on six continents.
Javier holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida.
Javier A. Baldor
Chief Executive Officer
Eileen M. Canady
Chief Marketing Officer
BST Global
Eileen is BST Global’s Chief Marketing Officer, and a member of the BST Global Executive Management team. In her role, Eileen is responsible for developing data-driven marketing campaigns to expand brand awareness, generate qualified leads and propel sales growth. She is also committed to leading a high-performing Marketing team with the skills and expertise to thrive in the fast-paced AEC software landscape. Eileen also serves as the Executive Director for BST Global’s AI + Data Consortium.
Eileen has more than 25 years of B2B marketing and sales leadership experience. Eileen is responsible for managing the company’s marketing efforts, including product marketing, event management, market research, competitive analysis, customer personas, full-campaign strategies, go-to-market planning, brand management, demand and lead generation, content and creative development, public and analyst relations, association relationships, internal and external communications, and digital presence. Eileen’s strategic initiatives drive sales, resulting in brand awareness, consideration and conversion.
Before BST Global, Eileen served as Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Sykes Enterprises, Inc., where she overhauled the company’s brand and laid out a strategic roadmap dedicated to brand awareness, retention and new client acquisition. Eileen also served as the Vice President of Strategic Development and Marketing at JHS Capital Advisors, where she played a key role in increasing the company’s brand presence and recognition as a leader in the industry, resulting in overall company growth.
A member of the Forbes Communication Council, Eileen also serves on the Advisory Council for the Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa and on the Advisory Board for the University of South Florida Muma College of Business’ Digital Marketing Program. Eileen is also certified in Strategic and Conceptual Selling by Korn Ferry.
Eileen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with Business and Technical Writing from the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida.
Eileen M. Canady
Chief Marketing Officer
ABOUT THE SESSION
As AI becomes more embedded in the AEC industry, it is changing more than technology strategies — it is transforming how work gets done, how teams are structured and what skills will matter most in the years ahead.
In this panel discussion, industry leaders explore how AI is reshaping talent models, redefining roles, and creating new expectations for productivity, collaboration and innovation across the enterprise. Attendees will gain insight into how firms can prepare their workforce, leadership, and operating models for a future where human expertise and intelligent technology work side by side.
BST Global’s Javier A. Baldor and Eileen M. Canady will moderate the discussion.





